PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Detectives say a man is under arrest for sexually assaulting a female 20 years ago in Palm Beach County when he was an underage teenager.
Investigators said 34-year-old Noel Morales Medina held a knife to a female's throat, tied her hands with electrical cord, and sexually assaulted her five times at a home in suburban West Palm Beach in the early morning hours of Oct. 25, 1999.
Medina was only 14 when the crime occurred, according to detectives. It's unclear how old the female was.
The alleged victim told deputies she knew her attacker only as 'Noel.'
A sexual battery evidence kit was collected from the alleged victim, however PBSO said lab tests didn't identify Medina as the suspect until 18 years later, on Aug. 22, 2017.
An arrest warrant was issued for Medina, and he was finally captured by U.S. Marshals on Sept. 27 in Mayfield, Kentucky.
Medina was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail earlier this week on charges of sexual battery with a deadly weapon or force, and burglary with assault or battery.
Medina is one of several men arrested recently for decades-old sexual assaults in South Florida, thanks to a renewed focus on processing sexual assault evidence kits.
Palm Beach County Victims Services said this arrest should encourage more victims to come forward, regardless of how much time has passed.
"Even though they happened in 1999, or in 2002, or 2005, law enforcement hasn’t forgotten about these victims and they are still important," said Nicole Bishop, the Director of Palm Beach County Victims Services. "And if they have the evidence and the information that they need to move forward, they’re going to do that."
If you feel you've been a victim of sexual assault, call the Sexual Assault Response Team at 561-833-7273.
